2021 is among the driest years on record for Spokane, but conditions have improved dramatically in the past couple of months.
Back in September, the city's drought declaration was D4, indicating exceptional drought. National Weather Service meteorologist Rocco Pelatti says the area was way behind average precipitation back then."Precipitation total was only 5.03 inches, which is a little over 5 inches below normal,” he said.
But Pelatti says the last several weeks of precipitation has moved Spokane to D1, or moderate drought.
“We're at 11.28 inches, so that number is a lot bigger, but were still just under five inches of the normal value of 16," he said.
Pelatti says snowfall is expected to boost that number up a bit more before the end of the year, but 2021 will still be among the 10 driest on record for Spokane.
